Match Report – Pontypool RFC 38 Ebbw Vale RFC 52
A Christmas cracker of a game
Ebbw Vale visited Pontypool Park in a game where both sides contributed a huge amount to an entertaining game where 90 points were scored on a bright but cold afternoon.
The Steelmen were quick out of the blocks. After applying pressure to the Pontypool tryline, the visitors were rewarded when Sion Parry crossed to score the games opening try. Fly half Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.
The hosts soon hit back. After claiming the ball back from the restart, quick back play by Pooler saw flanker Evan Minto break through the defence in midfield and sped to the tryline. Number ten Harri Ford brought the scores level.
The home side soon took the lead when centre Pat Lewis crossed the line after good pressure by the hosts. Ford added the extras.
Two quick further tries by wingers Marcus Jones and Carrick McDonough, one converted by Ford saw Pontypool extend their lead to nineteen points and claim a try bonus point.
With the Ebbw forwards trying to regain the ascendancy, an off the ball scuffle in the Pooler 22 saw referee Ben Connor send Ebbw prop Luke Garrett and home captain Scott Matthews to the sin bin to spend ten minutes to cool off.
The Steelmen hit back on the thirty ninth minute. After going through phase after phase, number eight Ryan Jenkins showed his strength to power over the line to score Ebbw Vale’s second try of the game. Lloyd sent the ball through the posts to add the extra two points.
Firmly back on the front foot, the visitors struck again on the stroke of half time. After sending a penalty into the Pooler twenty-two, the forwards sent up a driving maul from the lineout. With the help of the backs, the maul went over the line, with the leagues top try scorer Ieuan Morris touching down. Lloyd again added the extras to make it a five-point game going into half time.
Half Time: Pontypool RFC 26 Ebbw Vale RFC 21
Clearly fired up, Ebbw came out and took the second half to the hosts. After good work at the scrum, quick passing out to full back Morgan Richards, saw the number fifteen go under the posts unopposed to secure a try bonus point for his team. From in front of the sticks Lloyd put the Steelmen back in front.
With the game back and forth a yellow card to the visitor’s winger Ewan Bowden saw the home side have a numerical advantage. The hosts took advantage of the situation when replacement Joel Mahoney scored out wide. On this occasion Pooler outside half Ford was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The away sides coach Jason Strange started to ring the changes. Captain Joe Franchi, fly half Dorian Jones and Prop Morgan Bosanko came on for Ieuan Morris, Evan Lloyd and Adam Williams.
Captain Franchi soon made his mark. A penalty to Ebbw saw Jones put the ball into the Pontypool twenty-two. From the lineout the forwards got up a head of steam, assisted by the backs and Franchi dived over the line to score. Jones sent the conversion wide of the uprights.
With Ebbw Vale on the front foot and applying pressure in the Pontypool twenty-two, referee Connor showed the hosts prop Kelvyn Williams a yellow card.
Taking the scrum from the penalty, the Steelmen’s number nine Gruff Tough took the ball from the feet of number eight Jenkins, went down the blindside and showed his pace by going outside the home side winger to score out wide. Jones was unable to add the extras.
A further change by the visitors saw prop Luke Garrett leave the field to be replaced by Morgan Williams.
Further good play by the away side saw Ebbw benefit further. With the forwards getting over the gain line, a kick into space behind the defence by Dorian Jones saw winger Ewan Bowden collect the ball and dive over the line. Jones successfully kicked the conversion.
The away sides final change of the game saw scrum half Gruff Tough be replaced by Dan Buffery.
With the game going from end to end, Pontypool scored their sixth and final try of the game. Fullback Ellis Davies crossed the line out wide. Number ten Ford sent the ball through the middle of the sticks.
The fourteenth and final try of an entertaining game was scored with the final play by the Steelmen. Another good phase of play by the Ebbw forwards saw Jones put in an excellent cross field kick out wide to unmarked winger Bowden, who caught the ball and crossed the line. Jones sent the last kick of the game through the centre of the posts to bring the game to a close.
Full Time: Pontypool RFC 38 Ebbw Vale RFC 52
Tries: Sion Parry (1), Ryan Jenkins (1), Ieuan Morris (1), Morgan Richards (1), Joe Franchi (1), Gruff Tough (1), Ewan Bowden (2)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (4), Dorian Jones (2)
Pictures courtesy of Richard Whitcombe
After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale full back Morgan Richards. Morgan acknowledged visiting Pontypool Park is always a tough place to play. Morgan thought the team did not start the game the way they wanted to. The team gave away some soft penalties and conceded some soft tries. However, Morgan paid tribute to the squad when saying the players worked hard for each other, with their commitment and determination to pull the game back from a nineteen-point deficit and he believed the squad came away with what they deserved, especially after an improved second half performance.
The Steelmen’s next game is away to second placed Llandovery RFC at Church Bank, on Saturday 3rd January 2026. The game is live on S4C, with kick off at 5:15pm.
Everyone at Ebbw Vale RFC would like to thank the supporters, sponsors and everybody involved for their support during 2025 and wish all a happy new year.
The Steelmen squad for the Pontypool game…
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans